Abstract

ANTI TUMOUR ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF GANODERMA LUCIDUM (CURT.: FR.) P. KARST

M.Nithya, V.Ambikapathy, A.Panneerselvam, N.Thajuddin

Abstract

The popular mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) is a bracket fungus and has been widely used for the promotion of health and longevity in Asian countries. The dried powder of G.lucidum was popular as a cancer chemotherapy agent in ancient China. G.lucidum clearly demonstrates anticancer activity in experiments with cancer cells and has possible therapeutic potential as a dietary supplement or alternative therapy for breast and prostate cancer. The fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporaceae) are a well known Chinese crude drug identified as a phytotoxic agent. However, since G.lucidum was available from different sources, it is advisable to test its biological activity. And also it has been identified for antitumor properties through Agrobacterium tumefaciens infection using potato and carrot disc bioassay. Significant root length inhibition was observed at 100ppm and 200ppm. Similarly seed germination was also significantly inhibited at the concentration 100ppm and 200ppm extracts. The mean data of root length inhibition by ethanol extract in 100ppm was 0.393 and 0.208 in 200ppm. Likewise the mean data of seed germination inhibition by ethanol extract in 100ppm was 45 and 15 in 200ppm. In potato maximum tumour inhibition 75, 72.91, 75.64 and 80.32% were observed at 1000ppm of ethanol, di ethyl ether, chloroform and aqueous respectively for the accessions of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In carrot maximum tumour inhibition 64.28, 75, 70 and 60% were at 1000ppm of respective solvents. Overall results supported that Ganoderma lucidum might be a potential source of antitumor agent that could be used for further drug development and tumor treatment in human.

Keywords: Ganoderma lucidum, Radish seed, Seed germination, phytotoxicity, potato disc bioassay, antitumor activity, and % inhibition.